katie

Pre-Shrunk 2012 Favourites

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:58:00 -0500

Tonight is the opening of the Pre-Shrunk show at Argyle Fine Art (1559 Barrington St., 7pm). The premise is pretty cool:

…200 works to choose from by a large selection of artists working in a variety of mediums. All of the works measure 4”x5” and sell for $175.

Argyle Fine Art has released the entire collection online so that patrons can view early and scout out the pieces they’d like to buy.

Of course, I did a little bit of window shopping myself. You can see my picks below.

Maryanne Collins

Monkey’s Paw by Alex MacAskill

Anna Stowe

The Source by Jessica Winton

Links & Likes

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:00:06 -0500

1 ┆2 ┆3 ┆ 4 ┆5

Some other interesting things:

MTW’s amazing bowl cut by Riley Smith
border-radius.com
Boots on Spring Garden Road (If you are from Halifax and haven’t seen this blog yet, you’re missing out!)
Two amazing hair tutorials, one video.
Mondrian Sandwich
Weird thing of the week: Hidden Mothers

It’s been a long week. A long week full of learning in The School of Life. I feel like “Life Lessons” may be a defining thing for me this year. I’m thinking of devoting a separate post to that topic, so I’ll say no more.

On a lighter note, it’s Friday! Whee! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

PS: I’m trying a new thing to make these a bit more visual. I’ve seen lots of other lovely blogs do a little photo montage as part of the weekly wrap-up and I think it helps give the post some life. Hope you like!

Soia & Kyo is having a winter sale and I’m torn on...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:47:22 -0500

Soia & Kyo is having a winter sale and I’m torn on which parka to get. I’m sold on the camel colour, but should I go short or long? I love the belt/fit of the shorter one, but the longer one could potentially be warmer.

Also, is anyone familiar with the sizing of this brand? Do their coats fit true to size?

I’d love your help! Reply to the post with “A” or “B” or let me know what you think on twitter (@katietower).

UPDATE: Based on my walk to work this morning in -13 degree temps, I chose option B. As much as I want to stay fashion forward, staying warm takes priority.

"It’s as true today as it ever was: he who seeks beauty will find it."

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:30:12 -0500

“It’s as true today as it ever was: he who seeks beauty will find it.”

- Bill Cunningham

"Design is not just something you do on a piece of paper. Design is how you think, how you see, how..."

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:56:43 -0500

“Design is not just something you do on a piece of paper. Design is how you think, how you see, how you act, what you buy, what you own, what you surround yourself with; what you listen to what you don’t listen to, what you watch, what you don’t watch. So design, for me, is a kind of way of life and perhaps a substitute for any other kind of religion.”

-

Burton Kramer Film Trailer from Greg Durrell on Vimeo.

Huurd is coming soon!

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:30:05 -0500

I’ve teamed up with my friends Matt and Josh to build Huurd. Right now it’s still in the planning/designing/building stage, so all I can tell you is that when it’s launched, it’ll help the creative minds of Halifax (and perhaps beyond) come together.

If you want to know more than that you’ll have to wait, but you can sign up for updates and we’ll keep you in the loop!

Links & Likes

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:00:05 -0500

This week was a big week for me. I’m making a change career-wise; switching jobs just before the Christmas holiday. I’ll be taking on a new opportunity that’s quite nerve-wracking, but I have a good feeling about it. Nothing like a challenge to start the new year off right.

I don’t want to get ahead of myself, though. There’s still a bit of time until the end of the year. At this point I’m happy to have made it to the weekend! Looking forward to going to chop down a tree and spend time with family & friends. I love this time of year!

Links:
These dresses
thou shalt not park here
Black & White shelf-scape
Chunky knit stools
All-set card set
The art of dancing (if you only click on one link, please let this be it).

Likes:
Glittery pants
Triptychs of Strangers
bow
Wingin’ It
My cup of coffee said
Doing it anyway

Fall Film

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:33:00 -0500

Some photos I took this fall using Ilford film. I’d it’s my favorite for b&w.

I photographed Anne for her blog a while back. She’s shuch a lovely lady and her cooking is amazing. I sampled a gingerbread cake and a delicious quinoa and beet salad on the day I took these photos. On top of that, as I was about to finish up, she decided to make some homemade granola! It’s clear her passion is cooking and baking for her family. Everything tastes like it was made with a little extra dash of love.

Apple picking with my beautiful mother:

(Still experiencing some light leakage…)

Links & Likes

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:02:06 -0500

Well hello! So perhaps it has been a while since I’ve done a weekly roundup, but I choose not to dwell on that. Let’s focus on the fact that it’s Friday and the freedom of Saturday and Sunday are a mere few hours away. I hope that you all have a lovely weekend. On to the goodies!

Links
Grid books (via swissmiss)
Portraits for Uniquo by Charles Williams
Pie topper DIY
J.Crew Heart Sweater (via A CUP OF JO)
Carolyna
Lovely Owl (video)
Everynone

Likes
Katherine says…
THE
Yes you can
These gloves (the perfect gift!)
The roaring twenties
Oliver’s birth announcements
no!

{post photo}

Everynone

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:03:12 -0500

I’m a huge fan of the concepts that everynone uses video to portray. Spot on. Also, their name! It’s one of those things I wish I had come up with. Check out three of my favorite pieces below:

thedailyfiona: veronicalovesarchie: In my aforementioned dream,...

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:08:51 -0500

thedailyfiona: veronicalovesarchie:

In my aforementioned dream, my life’s aesthetic would be something similar to this. Although I’m not really into men with long hair.

On Birthdays and DIY'ing

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:10:35 -0500

Inspired by the work of Confetti System and Geronimo Balloons, I decided to make a photo booth backdrop and some other crafty goodies for my recent 25th birthday celebration. I failed at documenting most of it, but here’s a glimpse of the photo booth and the garland:

As far as DIY’ing goes: I’m into it. Lots more of that to come from me!

In Print

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:11:00 -0500

My design/letterpress work was featured in the latest Wedding Guide published by The Coast and Duly Noted!

If you or anyone you know is getting married, having a party, would like birth announcements, or could use some personal stationery, please let me know! I’m happy to take on custom work!

[Photo taken by my awesome friend Matt Morgan]

Vince

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:34:13 -0500

I know I’ve said this before, but I really do have a lot of talented friends who continually inspire me to keep striving for whatever flavour-of-the-month dreams and ambitions I have at any given time. Regardless of the physical distance between us, news of their work and efforts reach me, usually by the power of the interwebs and I am - once again - blown away and simultaneously kicked in the pants. They provide me with a wake-up call to light my own fire and make more things, do more things, and just keep going.

Vince is one of those people. The growth of his Kingston, Ontairo letterpress business, Everlovin’ Press, is very inspiring. This isn’t the first time I’ve posted about Vince (and it’ll definitely not be the last), but he was recently photographed by Scott Adamson (great photographs, by the way!) and I really wanted to share and spread the word. Click through the image to see more or go here.

Also, YAY LETTERPRESS!

Dream:

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:17:27 -0500

To have a lifestyle brand under which I can design, cook/bake, make products, make photographs, sell, write, listen, present, curate, change, teach, learn.

Detroit Layered Typographic System

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:00:05 -0400

Available at Myfonts.
via designworklife

Inkwell Modern Handmade

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:00:06 -0400

Last Thursday I took some time to stop into the newest shop in town, Inkwell Modern Handmade Boutique & Letterpress Studio. The proprietor Andrea and I were first acquainted through the Letterpress Gang and I’ve had the opportunity to watch from afar as she built this business and shop from the ground up.

Inkwell sells all kinds of wonderful handmade cards, prints, textiles and other goodies - both locally and internationally sourced - but with a definite bias toward letterpress goods and type-heavy motifs (which doesn’t bother me in the least!). I scooped up this Mary Kate McDevitt print, a card for a friend and the free gift with purchase which included a couple of letterpress recipe cards!

If you’re in Halifax, I can’t recommend stopping in to Andrea’s store enough; either to grab a gift for a lucky someone or a treat for yourself. It’s a total gem in the downtown area. Congrats again Andrea!

Here are some snaps from the open house:

Dream Big & Often. | Bookmark keepsakes

Their beautifully restored press!

Washi Tape

Penant flags

Rifle Paper Co. Recipe Box

Perpetual Calendar by Orangebeautiful & The Card Wall

Links & Likes

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:00:00 -0400

This week has been pretty interesting to say the least. I had a bit of a twitter discussion with Canadian comedian Gerry Dee about a design contest (read: crowd-sourcing/spec) he was trying to start over twitter. It has since been called off. I also attended an open house for a new local shop owned by a fellow letterpress lover (a full post on that to come!) and on Sunday I’ll be heading to Quebec city for a couple of days off. I’m also giving this chocolate chip cookie recipe a whirl somewhere in between birthday parties, letterpress printing, and prepping for my mini vacation. Oi! Hope your week was full but fun and that your weekend is great as well!

On to the internet goodies!

Links

Bathing caps with faces

Save or splurge

Neon pink twine

Badge Hunting by Allan Peters

Rebranding Hell

You don’t have to be pretty

Likes

Andrew and his Jeep

A full moon photoshoot

Life Hacks

peekaboo?

These lamps

Tumblr is hiring a designer

Wake up and

Coco Rocha for Jacob sans Photoshop

Black and White and Summer all over.

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 08:11:15 -0400

As mentioned, I had a roll of black and white film being processed. I definitely have a big soft spot for black and white photography & I’m pretty happy with how this roll turned out (even with the light leak issue).

Above: Queensland Beach. Below: Leslie & Luke’s Wedding

Below: Parlee Beach

Links & Likes

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:09:33 -0400

TGIF! As always the internet is full of wondrous things. Enjoy!

Links

This amazing wedding invite suite

The Big Caption

Episode 199 of WTF with Marc Mron featuring Aubrey Plaza

Beautiful swear words

Emmadime: knitted

Hipster Ipsum

Likes

#neeedalift

Nicki speaks the truth!

The pencil story

Watch the Throne

This quote

Take me here, please!